Real Madrid stayed firmly in the La Liga title chase on Wednesday night, earning a hard-fought 1-0 win over Getafe thanks to a first-half wonder strike from rising star Arda Güler.
The Turkish teenager showed maturity beyond his years, curling a powerful shot from outside the box past Getafe goalkeeper David Soria midway through the opening half. The win brings Los Blancos within just four points of league leaders Barcelona, who secured a narrow 1-0 win over Mallorca the day before.
Young Talent Steps Up in Mbappe’s Absence
With Kylian Mbappe still recovering from an ankle injury ahead of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, manager Carlo Ancelotti handed 18-year-old Endrick his first La Liga start. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham was rested and started from the bench.
The reshuffled lineup showed flashes of brilliance. Fran Garcia had two early chances, one saved and the other blazed over, before Güler broke the deadlock with his composed finish.
“Arda’s goal was beautiful and crucial,” Ancelotti said post-match. “We needed a spark, and he gave it to us.”
Endrick nearly doubled Madrid’s lead after a clever assist from Vinicius Jr., but Getafe defender Djene made a last-ditch clearance after Soria managed to slow the shot.
Injury Concerns Ahead of Copa del Rey Final
The victory came at a price, however. Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and defender David Alaba both limped off with muscle discomfort.
“We’ll assess them tomorrow,” said Ancelotti. “It doesn’t look good for Saturday, unfortunately.”
This adds to the growing list of injury concerns ahead of the Copa del Rey El Clasico showdown in Seville, with Barcelona also missing key players like Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde.
Courtois Saves the Day
In the final moments of the match, Getafe pushed hard for an equalizer. The best chance fell to Mauro Arambarri, who shot wide despite being unmarked. Then in stoppage time, Thibaut Courtois showcased his elite shot-stopping abilities, denying both Peter and Juanmi from point-blank range.
Madrid loanee Alvaro Rodriguez, playing for Getafe, nearly haunted his parent club in the final seconds, but Courtois was equal to his effort.
La Liga and European Race Heats Up
Elsewhere in La Liga, Athletic Bilbao strengthened their grip on a Champions League spot with a 1-0 win over Las Palmas, thanks to a clinical early strike by Inaki Williams. The Basque side now sit comfortably in fourth, eight points clear of Villarreal, who were thrashed 3-0 by Celta Vigo.
Bilbao’s confidence is soaring ahead of their Europa League semi-final clash against Manchester United, with the final set to be hosted at San Mamés—their home ground—if they qualify.
Meanwhile, Alaves climbed out of the relegation zone after a vital 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad, pushing Las Palmas into the bottom three.